any advice on repotting needle juniper as i have one that is going to need repotting this coming spring and i don't want to loose this tree. i've heard these trees are very sensitive to repotting please give some advise

You might want to check out Boon's repotting video. Great info and it's easy to follow along with him to make sure you are repotting correctly. Depending on the state the tree is in, repotting may be different with what type of soil and container you will use. A picture would be good so more help can be given.

They do not like to have their roots disturbed when it's cold (that is true for us in Osaka). Many needle junipers have died from repotting too early; maybe just feeble looking at first, but by mid-summer, toast.

Sounds like I need to watch Boon's DVD's..... It's good to have insight into the quirks of plants in your climate zone. Nashville is anything but like San Francisco though .

In Osaka, which is about on par with Nashville, Tennessee we repot Juniperus rigida based mainly on the given tree's behavior (as new buds start to swell). This can be roughly between the last week of April and mid-May. Other bonsai professionals repot between mid-February and early March. They may have their tosho in a climate controlled or buffered environment like a poly tunnel / greenhouse.

As for any other details, we try not to cut off too many roots. Hard to discuss on a forum. Easier to show you in person as root system needs to be evaluated. Most important thing is not hack up the roots and to give the tree good drainage and water frequently. We add a pinch or two of charcoal on top of the drainage layer.

wow owen i didn't realize who i was talking to i google your name and some of your youtube videos pop up i faithfully watch that series but any how im so nervous to repot this juniper cause i don't want it to die as i repotted a needle juniper i worked on with nick lenz and i dint know needle juniper isn't like other junipers and like you said it looked fine at first then wamo its gone. how you said it would be easier to show you in person if your serious about that as i would go to you cause i really want to learn the proper way to repot a needle juniper cause i just love these trees

Hi Dre,I found this site recently and here goes my first post! I acquired a needle juniper in the spring and in researching the tree I found these articles on Peter Tea's blog. They don't really get into specifics on re potting needle junipers but they are informative nonetheless. I have not re potted mine yet so I am interested in how it goes for you. Thanks.

mike t it looks like im going to hire owen reich when he is back in the states from japan to show me to proper way to re pot the needle juniper. i've re potted all my other junipers and pine and yews and larches without problem but the needle juniper im nervous as i here they are sensitive to having there roots messed with

I guess the keys need to be remembered- 1) repot them after it has warmed up and they have started to green up on the tips, 2) make sure that they are clean of all field soil or old potting medium/decomposed akadama; and put them in to a good moisture retentive yet rapidly draining soil mixture; 3) until the root system is completely fine roots, be careful to limit your pruning up into the root ball to strategically stimulate new fine root growth.

Revigorating the roots is key to keeping them in tune with the top of the tree. Needle junipers (Tosho) like hot, humid climates, if we keep them in cooler places we nee to be really sure that we manage our activities around more suitable timing and/or moving into heated greenhouses/structures prior to and after repotting.

I think hiring a professional is a very good idea if you have concerns, but you will need to be sure to get your timing right so that you don't place the professional in a difficult situation due to the climate.

Tosho is different from other juniper. refined trees are repotted after first pruning of the new foliage that year. which will be in late spring early summer. when i studied in Japan, we repot them around the end of may to mid june. we leave them under 30% shade cloth or leave out in full sun.we do repot also in winter if we put the tree in the winter show.